The AM for Every Vehicle Act, a bill aimed at preserving AM radio in new vehicles, has moved out of committee and is one step closer to becoming law. The bipartisan legislation, led by New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer, has garnered significant support with at least 260 co-sponsors. The bill is expected to be passed by the end of the year.
The legislation requires all new vehicles, including electric ones, to have AM radio. This comes in response to several automakers' attempts to roll out new models without the feature. Gottheimer emphasized the importance of AM radio as a national public warning system and a source of emergency alerts.
In a statement, Gottheimer said, “The importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed. When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio."
The bill has received support from various lawmakers, including Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7), Rob Menendez (NJ-8), Bruce Westerman (AR-4), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3).